Image forming device

Abstract

To solve the problem in which: in a configuration in Patent Document 1, a capacitor for lighting up an LED needs to be added to the LED; as a result, the scale of a circuit provided in a drawer unit increases, and the cost of an image forming apparatus increases.SOLUTION: An LED 41 is lighten up based on power stored in a capacitor for preventing a variation in voltage supplied to a motor 402. That is, the capacitor for preventing a variation in voltage supplied to a motor 402 serves also as a storage battery for lighting up the LED 41.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that notifies the user of the location of a recording medium remaining inside the apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a configuration in which a drawer unit including a transport path is pulled out from an image forming apparatus so that recording media remaining inside the apparatus can be removed has been known. Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which an LED provided in the drawer unit is turned on to notify a user of the position of recording media remaining in the transport path of the drawer unit pulled out from the image forming apparatus. Specifically, Patent Document 1 discloses a capacitor that stores power in a circuit including the LED so that the LED can be turned on even when the drawer unit is pulled out from the image forming apparatus. When the drawer unit is pulled out from the image forming apparatus, the LED is turned on by the power stored in the capacitor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-10008 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the configuration of Patent Document 1, a capacitor for lighting the LED needs to be added to the LED, which increases the circuit scale provided in the drawer unit and the cost of the image forming apparatus.

[0005] In view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to notify the location of a jam that has occurred in an image forming apparatus using a less expensive configuration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises: In an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, Power supply and a connector connected to the power source; a transport unit that can be pulled out from the image forming apparatus, the transport unit including: a transport roller that transports the recording medium; a transport path that guides the recording medium transported by the transport roller; a plurality of sensors that are provided at different positions on the transport path in a transport direction in which the recording medium is transported and that detect the presence or absence of the recording medium; a plurality of light sources that are provided corresponding to each of the plurality of sensors; a plurality of drive circuits that are provided corresponding to each of the plurality of light sources and that control the lighting of the corresponding light sources; and a capacitor that suppresses fluctuations in voltage supplied from the power source via the connector to a motor that drives the transport roller; a determining unit for determining a position where a jam has occurred in an image forming job for forming an image on the recording medium based on the plurality of sensors; a control means for controlling the drive circuit corresponding to the light source so that the light source corresponding to the position of the jam determined by the determination means is turned on; and When the transport unit is pulled out from the image forming apparatus, the electrical connection between the transport unit and the power supply by the connector is cut off, When the transport unit is pulled out from the image forming apparatus, the light source corresponding to the drive circuit controlled by the control means is turned on based on the power stored in the capacitor during the image forming job. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to notify the location of a jam that has occurred in an image forming apparatus with a less expensive configuration. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an image forming apparatus. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a drawer unit in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method for lighting an LED. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a drawer unit in a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the shapes of the components and their relative positions described in the embodiments may be changed as appropriate depending on the configuration of the device to which the present invention is applied and various conditions, and the scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited to the following embodiments.

[0010] [First embodiment] [Image forming device] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a color electrophotographic copying machine (hereinafter referred to as an image forming apparatus) 100 used in this embodiment. Note that the image forming apparatus is not limited to a copying machine, and may be, for example, a facsimile machine, a printing machine, a printer, etc. Furthermore, the recording method is not limited to an electrophotographic method, and may be, for example, an inkjet method. Furthermore, the type of the image forming apparatus may be either a monochrome type or a color type.

[0011] The configuration and functions of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described below with reference to Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 has an original reading device 200 including an original feeding device 201 and a reading device 202, and an image printing device 301.

[0012] <Document reader> The documents P loaded on the document stacking section 2 of the document feeder 201 are fed one by one by a pickup roller 3, and then transported further downstream by a feed roller 4. A separation roller 5 is provided opposite the feed roller 4 and presses against the feed roller 4. The separation roller 5 is configured to rotate when a load torque equal to or greater than a predetermined torque is applied to the separation roller 5, and has the function of separating documents that are fed in a stack of two.

[0013] The pickup roller 3 and the feed roller 4 are connected by a swing arm 12. The swing arm 12 is supported on the rotation shaft of the feed roller 4 so as to be rotatable around the rotation shaft of the feed roller 4.

[0014] The document P is conveyed by the feed roller 4 and the like, and is discharged onto the discharge tray 10 by the discharge roller 11.

[0015] The reading device 202 is provided with a document reading section 16 that reads an image on the first side of a document being conveyed. Image information read by the document reading section 16 is output to an image printing device 301.

[0016] The document feeder 201 is also provided with a document reading unit 17 that reads the image on the second side of the document being conveyed. The image information read by the document reading unit 17 is output to the image printing device 301 in the same manner as described for the document reading unit 16.

[0017] As described above, the document is read.

[0018] Furthermore, there are a first reading mode and a second reading mode as document reading modes. The first reading mode is a mode in which an image of a document transported by the method described above is read. The second reading mode is a mode in which an image of a document placed on the document glass 214 of the reading device 202 is read by the document reading unit 16, which moves at a constant speed. Normally, an image of a sheet-like document is read in the first reading mode, and an image of a bound document such as a book or pamphlet is read in the second reading mode.

[0019] <Image printing device> A sheet storage tray 18 for storing recording media is provided inside the image printing device 301. Note that a recording medium is a medium on which an image is formed by an image forming device, and includes, for example, paper, resin sheets, cloth, OHP sheets, labels, etc.

[0020] The recording medium stored in the sheet storage tray 18 is sent out by a pickup roller 19, conveyed in the conveying direction by each conveying roller, and sent to a registration roller 20.

[0021] The image signals output from the document reading device 200 are input for each color component to optical scanning devices 21Y, 21M, 21C, and 21K, each of which includes a semiconductor laser and a polygon mirror. Specifically, the image signal for yellow output from the document reading device 200 is input to optical scanning device 3Y, and the image signal for magenta output from the document reading device 200 is input to optical scanning device 3M. Furthermore, the image signal for cyan output from the document reading device 200 is input to optical scanning device 3C, and the image signal for black output from the document reading device 200 is input to optical scanning device 3K. Note that, although the following description will be given of a configuration for forming a yellow image, similar configurations apply to magenta, cyan, and black.

[0022] The outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 22Y, which serves as a photosensitive member, is charged by a charger 23Y. After the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 22Y is charged, a laser beam corresponding to an image signal input from the document reading device 200 to the optical scanning device 21Y is irradiated onto the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 22Y from the optical scanning device 21Y via an optical system including a polygon mirror and other mirrors. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 22Y.

[0023] Subsequently, the electrostatic latent image is developed with toner in a developing unit 24Y as a developing section, and a toner image is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 22Y. The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 22Y is transferred to a transfer belt 27 by a transfer roller 25Y provided at a position facing the photosensitive drum 22Y. Note that toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 22Y after the toner image has been transferred to the transfer belt 27 is collected by a cleaning unit 26Y.

[0024] The yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images transferred onto the transfer belt 27, which serves as a transfer unit, are then transferred onto the recording medium by a pair of transfer rollers 28. A high voltage is applied to the pair of transfer rollers 28, and the toner images are transferred onto the recording medium due to this high voltage. In synchronization with this transfer timing, the registration rollers 20 feed the recording medium into the pair of transfer rollers 28.

[0025] As described above, the recording medium onto which the toner image has been transferred is sent to the fixing device 29, which serves as a fixing unit, and the toner image is fixed to the recording medium by heating and pressurizing the recording medium by the fixing device 29. In this way, an image is formed on the recording medium by the image forming apparatus 100.

[0026] When an image is formed on a recording medium in single-sided printing mode, the recording medium that has passed through the fixing unit 29 is discharged to a discharge tray 31 by a discharge roller 30. When an image is formed on a recording medium in double-sided printing mode, the fixing unit 29 performs a fixing process on the first side of the recording medium, and the recording medium is then conveyed to a reversing path 32 by a reversing roller 38. The recording medium conveyed to the reversing path 32 is reversed between the first and second sides by the reversing roller 38 and conveyed to a conveyance guide provided with conveyance rollers 33, 34, 35, and 36. The recording medium is conveyed again to the registration rollers 20 by the conveyance rollers 33, 34, 35, 36, etc., and an image is formed on the second side of the recording medium in the manner described above. The recording medium is then discharged to a discharge tray 31 by a discharge roller 30.

[0027] The image printing device 301 in this embodiment is provided with a front door 302 that can be opened to allow a user to access the inside of the image printing device 301. When the front door 302 is opened, a drawer unit 180 serving as a transport unit is exposed. The drawer unit 180 is configured to be able to be drawn out from the image printing device 301.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, a sensor 40 for detecting the presence or absence of a recording medium is provided on the transport path along which the recording medium is transported in the drawer unit 180, and an LED 41 serving as a light source for illuminating the position where the sensor 40 is provided (position of jam) is provided at a position corresponding to the sensor 40. A sensor 42 for detecting the presence or absence of a recording medium is provided on the transport path along which the recording medium is transported in the drawer unit 180, and an LED 43 for illuminating the position where the sensor 42 is provided is provided at a position corresponding to the sensor 42. A sensor 44 for detecting the presence or absence of a recording medium is provided on the transport path that guides the transported recording medium in the drawer unit 180, and an LED 45 for illuminating the position where the sensor 44 is provided is provided at a position corresponding to the sensor 44. Details of the sensor and the LED will be described later. Note that four or more sensors and LEDs may be provided on the transport path in the drawer unit 180. The sensor is included in sensors 159, which will be described later.

[0029] The above is a description of the configuration and functions of image forming apparatus 100.

[0030] <Control configuration of image forming apparatus> Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the control configuration of the image forming apparatus 100. As shown in Fig. 2, the system controller 151 includes a CPU 151a, a ROM 151b, and a RAM 151c. The system controller 151 is also connected to the image processing unit 112, the operation unit 152, an analog-to-digital (A / D) converter 153, a high-voltage control unit 155, a motor driver 157, sensors 159, an AC driver 160, and a door sensor 303. The system controller 151 is capable of transmitting and receiving data and commands to and from each of the connected units.

[0031] The CPU 151a reads and executes various programs stored in the ROM 151b to execute various sequences related to a predetermined image formation sequence.

[0032] RAM 151c is a storage device that stores various data such as set values ​​for high voltage control unit 155, command values ​​for motor control device 157, and information received from operation unit 152.

[0033] System controller 151 transmits setting value data of various devices provided inside image forming apparatus 100, which are necessary for image processing in image processing unit 112, to image processing unit 112. Furthermore, system controller 151 receives signals from sensors 159, and sets setting values ​​for high voltage control unit 155 based on the received signals.

[0034] High voltage control unit 155 supplies the necessary voltage to high voltage unit 156 (chargers 23Y, 23M, 23C, 23K, developers 24Y, 24M, 24C, 24K, transfer roller pair 28, etc.) according to the set value set by system controller 151.

[0035] The motor driver 157 controls a motor 402 that drives a load (in this embodiment, the registration roller 20 is used as an example) provided in the drawer unit 180 in response to a command output from the CPU 151a. Although only one motor is shown in FIG. 2, two or more motors are actually provided in the image forming apparatus. Furthermore, although only one motor driver is shown in FIG. 2, two or more motor drivers are actually provided in the image forming apparatus.

[0036] The A / D converter 153 receives a detection signal detected by a thermistor 154 for detecting the temperature of the fixing heater 161, converts the detection signal from an analog signal to a digital signal, and sends the digital signal to the system controller 151. The system controller 151 controls the AC driver 160 based on the digital signal received from the A / D converter 153. The AC driver 160 controls the fixing heater 161 so that the temperature of the fixing heater 161 reaches a temperature required for performing the fixing process. The fixing heater 161 is a heater used for the fixing process, and is included in the fixing unit 29.

[0037] The system controller 151 controls the operation unit 152 so that an operation screen for the user to set the type of recording medium to be used (hereinafter referred to as paper type) and the like is displayed on a display unit provided on the operation unit 152. The system controller 151 receives information set by the user from the operation unit 152 and controls the operation sequence of the image forming apparatus 100 based on the information set by the user. The system controller 151 also transmits information indicating the status of the image forming apparatus to the operation unit 152. Note that information indicating the status of the image forming apparatus is, for example, information regarding the number of images formed, the progress of the image forming operation, and sheet jams and double feeds in the document reading device 201 and the image printing device 301. The operation unit 152 displays the information received from the system controller 151 on the display unit.

[0038] As described above, the system controller 151 controls the operation sequence of the image forming apparatus 100 .

[0039] [Circuit configuration in drawer unit] Next, a description will be given of the circuit configuration of the drawer unit 180 in this embodiment. In this embodiment, the following configuration is applied, so that the position of the recording medium remaining inside the image forming apparatus can be notified with a less expensive configuration.

[0040] 3 is a diagram illustrating the circuit configuration of the drawer unit 180. The following describes the lighting of the LEDs 41, but the configuration of the drive circuits provided corresponding to the respective LEDs provided in the drawer unit 180 is similar to the configuration of the drive circuit that drives the LEDs 41, so the description will be omitted.

[0041] 3, in this embodiment, a board 400 on which a CPU 151a is provided and a board 401 on which circuits for driving a motor 402 and an LED 41 are provided are connected via a connector 403. When the drawer unit 180 is drawn out from the image printing device 301, the board 401 moves away from the connector 403, and the electrical connection between the board 400 and the board 401 is cut off.

[0042] A voltage is supplied to the motor 402 from a power supply V-MTR via a connector 403, a switch 405, and a motor driver 157. A capacitor 404 that suppresses fluctuations in the voltage supplied to the motor 402 is provided between the connector 403 and the motor driver 157 in the power supply path. Specifically, a capacitor 404 that suppresses fluctuations in the voltage supplied to the motor 402 is provided between the switch 405 and the motor driver 157 in the power supply path. The motor driver 157 operates based on a control signal Sig-MTR output from the CPU 151a and controls the motor 402.

[0043] Sensor 40 operates using a voltage supplied from power supply V-SNS via connector 403. The detection result Sig-SNS of sensor 40 is output to CPU 151a. Based on the detection result Sig-SNS, CPU 151a determines whether or not a recording medium is present at the position corresponding to sensor 40.

[0044] The voltage output from the power supply V-SNS to the board 401 via the connector 403 is input to the CPU 151a via the connector 403 as the voltage Chk-V-SNS. With this configuration, the CPU 151a can determine whether the drawer unit 180 has been drawn out based on the voltage Chk-V-SNS. Specifically, if the voltage Chk-V-SNS is smaller than a predetermined value, the CPU 151a determines that the drawer unit 180 has been drawn out from the image printing device 301 (a state in which the electrical connection between the board 400 and the board 401 is interrupted). Furthermore, if the voltage Chk-V-SNS is larger than the predetermined value, the CPU 151a determines that the drawer unit 180 has been attached to the image printing device 301 (a state in which the board 400 and the board 401 are electrically connected). Note that, although in this embodiment, whether the drawer unit 180 has been drawn out is determined based on the voltage Chk-V-SNS, this is not limiting. For example, a sensor for determining whether or not the drawer unit 180 has been pulled out may be added to the substrate 401. However, a configuration in which whether or not the drawer unit 180 has been pulled out is determined based on the voltage Chk-V-SNS allows for a cheaper determination of whether or not the drawer unit 180 has been pulled out.

[0045] 3, in this embodiment, switches 405, 406, and 407 are provided as switching elements on a substrate 401. The switches 405, 406, and 407 may be FETs or relay circuits.

[0046] Switch 405 is turned on / off by signal Sig-SW[1] output from CPU 151a. Switch 406 is turned on / off by signal Sig-SW[2] output from CPU 151a. Signal Sig-SW[2] is input to switch 406 via latch circuit 408. Switch 407 is turned on / off by signal Sig-SW[3] output from CPU 151a. Signal Sig-SW[3] is input to switch 406 via latch circuit 409. The functions of latch circuits 408 and 409 will be described later.

[0047] When the substrate 400 and the substrate 401 are electrically connected, and the motor 402 is to be driven, the CPU 151a turns the switch 405 on and the switches 406 and 407 off. As a result, the voltage output from the power supply V-MTR is applied to the motor 402 (arrow A in FIG. 3). As a result, the motor 402 becomes controllable by the motor driver 157. Furthermore, power is stored in the capacitor 404 during an image formation job in which an image is formed. Note that when the substrate 400 and the substrate 401 are electrically connected, and the motor 402 is not to be driven, the CPU 151a may turn the switches 405, 406, and 407 off.

[0048] In this embodiment, as will be described later, the LED 41 lights up based on the power stored in the capacitor 404. Specifically, the voltage output from the capacitor 404 is input to the voltage conversion circuit 410 via the switch 406 (arrow B in FIG. 3). The voltage conversion circuit 410 converts the voltage output from the capacitor 404 into a voltage that can operate the LED 41.

[0049] The voltage output from the voltage conversion circuit 410 is input to the current adjustment circuit 411 via the switch 407. The current adjustment circuit 411 adjusts the current supplied to the LED 41 based on the voltage output from the voltage conversion circuit 410.

[0050] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for turning on the LED 41. The method for turning on the LED 41 will be described below with reference to FIG. 4. The processing of this flowchart is executed by the CPU 151a. The processing of this flowchart is executed when a job for forming an image is started. An instruction to start a job for forming an image is input to the CPU 151a via the operation unit 152, for example. The following description will be given of a case where a jam occurs at a position corresponding to the sensor 40.

[0051] When an image formation job is started, in S101, the CPU 151a turns on the switch 405. As a result, the voltage output from the power supply V-MTR is applied to the motor 402 (arrow A in FIG. 3). As a result, the motor 402 becomes controllable by the motor driver 157. In addition, power is stored in the capacitor 404.

[0052] Next, in S102, the CPU 151a controls the motor driver 157 to drive the motor 402. That is, the CPU 151a starts conveying the recording medium.

[0053] If it is determined in S103 that no jam has occurred, the CPU 151a advances the process to S114.

[0054] On the other hand, if a jam occurs in S103, in S104 the CPU 151a controls the motor driver 157 to stop the motor 402 and stop excitation of the motor windings. That is, the CPU 151a stops the transport of the recording medium. Note that the CPU 151a determines that a jam has occurred, for example, when the sensor 40 does not detect the recording medium even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the sensor 42 detected the recording medium. That is, the CPU 151a functions as a determination unit.

[0055] Thereafter, in S105, the CPU 151a turns off the switch 405. As a result, the power from the power supply V-MTR is cut off.

[0056] Next, in S106, the CPU 151a notifies the user of the location of the jam by displaying the location on the operation unit. Note that, for example, the CPU 151a may notify the user by displaying a message urging the user to open the front door 302 and pull out the drawer unit 180.

[0057] When the front door 302 is opened in S107, the CPU 151a turns the switches 406 and 407 on in S108. As a result, power is supplied from the capacitor 404 to the LED 41 via the voltage conversion circuit 410 and the current adjustment circuit 411, and the LED 41 lights up. In this embodiment, the latch circuit 408 keeps the switch 406 on, and the latch circuit 409 keeps the switch 407 on. As a result, even if the drawer unit 180 is pulled out from the image printing device 301, the switches 406 and 407 are kept on. In other words, even if the drawer unit 180 is pulled out from the image printing device 301, the LED 41 lights up. The CPU 151a determines whether the front door 302 is opened or not based on the signal Sig-DOOR output from the door sensor 303. The configuration for determining whether or not the front door 302 is opened (open / closed state) by the door sensor 303 is, for example, a known method.

[0058] Next, in S109, when the drawer unit 180 is drawn out, the CPU 151a advances the process to S110.

[0059] When the drawer unit 180 is attached in S110, the CPU 151a advances the process to S111.

[0060] In S111, if the recording medium remains at the position corresponding to the sensor 40 (the position where the jam occurred), the process returns to S106.

[0061] On the other hand, if the recording medium at the position corresponding to the sensor 40 is removed in S111, the CPU 151a turns the switch 405 on and the switches 406 and 407 off in S112.

[0062] Thereafter, in S113, the CPU 151a resumes the image forming operation (transport of the recording medium).

[0063] If the job is not completed in S114, the process returns to S103.

[0064] On the other hand, if the job is completed in S114, the CPU 151a ends the process of this flowchart.

[0065] In the above description, a jam occurs at a position corresponding to the sensor 40. However, if a jam occurs at a position corresponding to the sensor 42, the same process is performed on the LED 43.

[0066] As described above, in this embodiment, the LED 41 lights up based on the power stored in the capacitor that suppresses fluctuations in the voltage supplied to the motor 402. In other words, the capacitor that suppresses fluctuations in the voltage supplied to the motor 402 also serves as a storage battery for lighting the LED 41. As a result, there is no need to add a separate capacitor to light the LED, and the location of a jam that has occurred in the image forming apparatus can be notified with a less expensive configuration.

[0067] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the LED 41 lights up after the front door 302 is opened. That is, the LED 41 lights up when the user removes the recording media remaining in the drawer unit 180. As a result, the power stored in the capacitor 404 can be consumed without waste, compared to when the LED 41 lights up before the front door 302 is opened, and the time for which the LED 41 is lit can be made as long as possible.

[0068] The LED lighting configuration described in this embodiment is not limited to the drawer unit 180, but can be applied to any configuration in which a conveying path is drawn out from the image printing device 301.

[0069] The transfer roller pair 28, the fixing unit 29, etc. are included in the image forming unit.

[0070] Second Embodiment The description of the configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 that is the same as the configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 in the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0071] 5 is a diagram illustrating the circuit configuration of the drawer unit 180. The following describes the lighting of the LED 41, but the circuit configuration for driving each LED provided in the drawer unit 180 is similar to the circuit configuration for driving the LED 41, so the description will be omitted.

[0072] 5, the substrate 401 in this embodiment is provided with a diode array 412. In this embodiment, when the drawer unit 180 is pulled out from the image printing device 301, the voltage output from the voltage conversion circuit 410 is output to the sensor 40 via the diode array 412. That is, in this embodiment, even if the drawer unit 180 is pulled out from the image printing device 301, the sensor 40 can still operate.

[0073] In this embodiment, the detection result Sig-SNS of the sensor 40 is also input to the latch circuit 409. When the detection result of the sensor 40 changes (from "paper present" to "paper absent") due to the user removing the recording medium remaining in the position corresponding to the sensor 40, the latch circuit 409 turns the switch 407 to the OFF state. As a result, when the user removes the recording medium remaining in the position corresponding to the sensor 40, the LED 41 turns off. As a result, the user can confirm whether the recording medium is still present in the position corresponding to the sensor 40. Furthermore, the power stored in the capacitor 404 can be consumed more efficiently than if the LED 41 was always lit while the drawer unit 180 was pulled out. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 20 Registration roller 40 sensors 41 LED 100 Image forming device 151a CPU 180 Drawer Unit 400 boards 401 Substrate 402 Motor 403 Connector 404 Capacitor

Claims

1. In an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, a connector connected to a power source; a transport unit that can be pulled out from the image forming apparatus, the transport unit including: a transport roller that transports the recording medium; a transport path that guides the recording medium transported by the transport roller; a plurality of sensors that are provided at different positions on the transport path in a transport direction in which the recording medium is transported and that detect the presence or absence of the recording medium; a plurality of light sources that are provided corresponding to each of the plurality of sensors; a plurality of drive circuits that are provided corresponding to each of the plurality of light sources and that control the lighting of the corresponding light sources; and a capacitor that suppresses fluctuations in voltage supplied from the power source via the connector to a motor that drives the transport roller; a determining unit for determining a position where a jam has occurred in an image forming job for forming an image on the recording medium based on the plurality of sensors; a control means for controlling the drive circuit corresponding to the light source so that the light source corresponding to the position of the jam determined by the determination means is turned on; and When the transport unit is pulled out from the image forming apparatus, the electrical connection between the transport unit and the power supply by the connector is cut off, An image forming apparatus characterized in that, when the transport unit is pulled out from the image forming apparatus, the light source corresponding to the drive circuit controlled by the control means is turned on based on the power stored in the capacitor during the image forming job.

2. the image forming apparatus, a door that can be opened to provide access to the interior of the image forming device; a detection means for detecting whether the door is open or closed; and The transport unit is exposed by opening the door, 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the detection means detects that the door has been opened, the control means controls the drive circuit corresponding to the light source so that the light source corresponding to the jam position determined by the determination means is turned on.

3. a switching element is provided between the capacitor and the light source in a power supply path connecting the capacitor and the light source, the switching element being switched between a first state in which the capacitor and the light source are connected and a second state in which the capacitor and the light source are not connected; the drive circuit is provided with a latch circuit that latches the state of the switching element; the control unit switches the switching element provided in the drive circuit corresponding to the light source from the second state to the first state so that the light source corresponding to the position of the jam is turned on when the transport unit is attached to the image forming apparatus; When the transport unit is pulled out from the image forming apparatus, the electrical connection between the transport unit and the control means is cut off, 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the transport unit is pulled out of the image forming apparatus, the light source corresponding to the position of the jam is turned on by the latch circuit latching the switching element to the first state.

4. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive circuit is connected to a power supply path that connects the power supply and the motor.

5. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport unit includes the motor.

Images